TORONTO – More than 400 days after Bouchercon 2004: The World Mystery Convention was held (7-10 October 2004 in Toronto), cheques totaling $30,000.00 were presented to literacy groups at a wrap-up reception and dinner on Friday 18 November 2005 at the CN Tower, the World’s Tallest Free Standing Structure here in Toronto.

Cathy Mann, Executive Director of the Frontier College Foundation—for more than a century the prime source of literacy programmes and personnel in Canada—received a cheque for $25,000.00 from Al Navis, Chairman and Host of the convention. The funds will be earmarked for the recruitment of more qualified tutors all across the country.

Peter Steven who sits on the Board of Directors for Parkdale – Project Read—a 30-year old community literacy program—was also there to receive a cheque for $5,000.00 which will go to expanding their current physical space among other expenses.

In years past, it was the tradition to forward any surplus funds to future conventions but that seemed to fall by the wayside a few years ago, so when the convention was awarded to Toronto in 2001, the Toronto Executive Committee decided that if there were to be a surplus after all legitimate expenses were paid, literacy programmes would benefit.

It was also announced that a further donation of $1,000.00 would be targeted for Cincinnati Media who have been give the dauntless task of assembled and running a permanent Bouchercon website which would not only have links to future conventions but would also be a living archive for all previous conventions. It is hoped by the Toronto Committee that future Bouchercons follow suit and continue to fund this necessary on-going project.

Finally, by running a totally transparent convention, financially speaking, and by donating all surplus funds to legitmate charities, it is the fervent wish of the Toronto Committee that past Bouchercons who haven’t yet made their financial positions clear, do so now and that all future events operate in a likewise transparent manner.

It is only with this model that the Bouchercon movement can continue in an era with the Internet, regional conventions, more author tours, increased travel expenses and inconvenience and a gradually declining collector’s/reader’s base.

For all the authors, booksellers, fans, agents and publishers who attended the Toronto Bouchercon, on behalf of all the people who will learn how to read and write because of your attendance, we thank you!